Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
August 11, 2009

The Crop Development Centre and the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan are pleased to announce that Dr. Helen Booker has accepted the position of Flax Breeder with the CDC.

Dr. Booker comes to the Crop Development Centre from the Agriculture Food and Nutritional Science Department at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where for the past 18 months she has worked as a Research Associate in Cereal Breeding. Prior to that, she was employed as a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Post-doctoral Fellow with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Saskatoon Research Centre in Saskatoon.

After completing a BSc (Honours) in Molecular Biology and Genetics and an MSc in Plant Physiology at the University of Guelph, Dr. Booker obtained a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of West Indies, a Centre that is well recognized for its excellence in the breeding of tropical crops.

Dr. Booker will begin her new position at the Crop Development Centre on August 17, 2009. She will have the honour of working over the next year with with Dr. Gordon Rowland, whose successful 30 year research career with CDC has resulted in the release of 15 flax and 4 fababean varieties. Among his releases are Vimy, which dominated the western Canadian flax acreage for over 10 years, and CDC Bethune, which has now replaced Vimy as the most dominant flax variety in western Canada.

About the U of S Crop Development Centre: Located within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the Crop Development Centre is Saskatchewan’s plant breeding institute. The CDC develops varieties of spring wheat, durum, canary seed, barley, oat, flax, pea, lentil, chickpea, and dry bean for the economic benefit of farmers and Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry. Since its inception, the CDC has released over 325 new plant varieties.

About the University of Saskatchewan (www.usask.ca): The University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the university is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award-winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.

Website: http://www.usask.ca

Published: August 11, 2009